Well it's time that I start getting serious about learning how to fly a taildragger and getting an endorsment. My Avid Flyer is almost ready for me to go and get it and I still have Zero tailwheel time Just wondering what I can do to prepare myself.. any good books you guys recommend? And aside from that how do you find somebody to teach you? I haven't researched all the flight schools around here but so far the ones I have looked at there is no tailwheel instruction. Anybody have any suggestions for Northern California? Thanks in advnace for hooking up the noob.

Try www.richstowell.com at Santa Paula, Ca.

I have flow with the Santa Paula crew. The are fun to fly with. It is quite an amazing little airport.

There are a lot of unique airplanes there. Check out Marple aviation if you can. He is big in Culvers and has been working a long time.

Dane

Santa Paula would be a bit of a trip for you though (isn't Solano Co up by Fairfield?). I would suggest Amelia Reid as well. They have a bunch of Citabrias and do emergency maneuvers/aerobatics training too(I did mine here in Reno with Tim Brill.) That is fun stuff.

That said, Santa Paula is a neat little airport.

This is the bible. I have read it several times through the years and always gleen more info from it. Anybody that wants to know why and how airplanes do what they do, needs this book.



BTW, the authors, son's Husky is at O22 Columbia right now ad I'm hoping to meet him.

Mark

Jr.

I did sorta' the same thing. Read one part and try to absorb it. Truth be known, I actually read some parts over many times trying to absorb it. Hardheaded I guess.

Mark

Herb Bishop at Nervino (O02) has an Aronca Champ. 530-832-6940

Another book would be "The Compleat Taildragger". Sorry, but I forget who wrote it. I was told it was as good as the "blue book"(they called Compleat the "yellow book".

I got one called "Conventional Gear: Flying a Taildragger" by some Australian guy. It's ok. I read Langweische years ago, before I ever got my Private. It's a good one.

Sparkey Imeson has some good tailwheel tips here.

I have read both Sparky's taildragger technique and Stick and Rudder. I think that both should be read. I am actually in the middle of Stick and Rudder for the second time.

Dane

I was in the grocery store the other night and was doing my usual adolescent shopping cart freestyle tricks when I realized how good an analogy a backwards rolling shopping cart is for a taildragger.

Keep in mind, we're steering the shopping cart moving backwards, handle in the front.

1) The forward main gear are fixed, non-castoring.
2) The rear gear is castoring or steerable.
3) The center of gravity is rearward of the forward mains.
4) It's really easy to oversteer and get your ass in front of you.

Next time you're in the store, start rolling one backwards and trying to keep it going where you want. It's fun.

Don't forget the 25lb bag of gravy train in the back(front) for the full effect!

Awesome guys thanks for all the info. Davis is just up the road I've done touch and go's there several times. I actually live in Suisun City just outside of Fairfield. I will have to get in touch with a few of these people and see what I can do. I hooked up with the local EAA chapter president online as well and plan on attending their monthly meeting on the 21st. If the weather holds out tomorrow which it's not supposed to I am going to try and get my high performance endorsement in our clubs T-41C. It's basically a 172 with 230HP

I contacted Amilia Reid today down in San Jose to inquire about their program. As soon as I can take 5 days or so off work I am going to do their 3 day crash course in their Aeronca Champ. They said that airplane would probably be closest for transisitioning to the Avid. Although a Citrabria would be a lot of fun too! Can't wait to add some more to my steadily growing aviation knowledge! Thanks again for the links!

Avid,

NO, NO, NO!!!! We do not refer to these things as "crash" courses!! This terminology gets spouses, parents, caretakers, and other busybodys really wigged out when used in the context of flying.

Use the airline term of "Upset training", or "Energy Management" training.

But, definitely not "crash course".

MTV

Yeah, that's kinda like when you're issued a clearance to a lower altitude and you reply with something like "GOING DOWN to One-Five thousand." Going down... eek.

Avid, sounds like you've found a good place to go learn. Enjoy the training... It was a lot of fun and the stick and rudder skills will never go out of style.

M

Gotta be careful with your phraseology.... once I heard ATC ask a pilot in scuddy conditions if he had the airport in sight, and re replied "I don't see nothing...."-- that caused a little bit of a panic on at the ATC end of things .....

Eric

I'll bet some donuts got dropped and coffee spilled on that one

My favorite is when ATC says the traffic is, "gonna go below ya" a little too fast

Well wish me luck.. I start training at Amelia Reid this weekend in an Aeronca Champ! Hoperfully by Tuesday I'll have my TW endorsment. Curious to find out how little I actually know about flying in it's pure form.